Cruise Bloggers Reveal Their Favourite Ports

Cruising has never been so exciting, with brand new ships joining the oceans, innovative technologies and incredible destinations to explore – it can be hard to know where to look. That’s why we asked a selection of cruise experts to share their favourite ports to help you decide where to set sail to next.

Juneau, Alaska

Chosen by: Don & Heidi Bucolo | EatSleepCruise.com (www.eatsleepcruise.com)

Also known as ‘DB & The Princess’, this husband and wife team are behind EatSleepCruise.com. While the site only launched in 2015, the pair have been avid cruisers since they set sail on their first cruise together over a decade ago. Fellow travellers have come to know and love their signature reviews, tips, advice and guides on hotels, ports and shore excursions.

Why they love Juneau

“This popular port of call has so much to offer all types of cruisers. Travellers can admire awe-inspiring landscapes and abundant wildlife just by stepping foot off the cruise ship. There are many nature tours available to discover bears and bald eagles or even whale watching expeditions. Thrill seekers can soar through the Tongass National Forest on a series of ziplines or get up close and personal with one of the most magnificent natural wonders, the Mendenhall Glacier. One of our most memorable shore excursions was a helicopter tour and glacier walk on this famous landmark. Foodies won’t be disappointed either. They can dive into the local seafood scene, including the “best legs in town” at the world-famous Tracy’s Crab Shack or perhaps enjoy a traditional salmon bake.  No matter how many times we visit this port, we always discover something new and exciting!”

Bridgetown, Barbados

Chosen by: Flavia Gray | Ships & Champagne (www.shipsandchampagne.com)

Surrey mum of two, Flavia Gray is a cruise expert and travel writer. She creates articles for the national press and travel websites. Since falling in love with cruising in 2011, Flavia has taking over 25 cruises to all corners of the globe. Her bucket list destinations include Alaska, South America and Iceland.

Why she loves Bridgetown

“My favourite port is Bridgetown, Barbados because of its beauty and abundance of experiences on offer for all generations. Bridgetown and its Garrison is rich in history and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. Guests can also explore museums, historic buildings, parks, libraries and more.

For me though, it is the 70 miles of stunning beaches that Barbados has to offer, that really appeals to me. Brownes Beach is a 15-minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal and Worthing Beach a further 10 minutes’ drive. These are great options if you want to split your time between sightseeing, shopping and beach time. There are plenty of taxis waiting at the terminal to take cruise guests off on their island adventure.

The local Bajan cuisine offers a blend of African, Indian and British dishes, which take advantage of locally caught fish, grass-fed meat and sweet plantains. Rum is another huge part of the Island’s history and there are some great distillery tours and shore excursions available.

Barbados is even making huge commitments to protecting the environment. Single-use plastics are now banned on the island, and they are one of the world’s top users of electric cars!”

Basseterre, St Kitts

Chosen by: Heather Cowper | Heather on her Travels (www.heatheronhertravels.com)

Heather Cowper is an award-winning UK travel blogger, writing for the 50+ traveller who’s looking for an authentic travel experience with a little luxury. She loves the variety of destinations you can visit on a cruise, especially the individual experience of small ships and luxury cruising.

Why she loves Basseterre

“I love the Caribbean island of St Kitts and the relaxed charm of its cruise port in Basseterre. There’s lots to see within a short walk of the port and as the island’s quite small, you can be on a gorgeous beach or fascinating old plantation within a 30-minute drive by taxi or cruise excursion.”

Geiranger, Norway

Chosen by: Emma Le Teace | Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People (www.cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.com)

Emma is an award-winning cruise blogger, YouTuber and founder of the ‘Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People’ community.

Why she chose Geiranger

“One of my favourite ports is Geiranger in Norway. Geiranger is a little village located in the Geirangerfjord, it’s surrounded on all sides by astounding views of mountain ranges, waterfalls and nature. There is plenty to do in the port including hiking, biking and kayaking but even a simple walk or car journey is wonderful. There isn’t anywhere quite like it.”

St. Petersburg, Russia

Chosen by: Jamie Edwards | Explore With Ed (www.explorewithed.co.uk)

Jamie Edwards runs the award-nominated travel blog ‘Explore With Ed’, sharing day trips and getaways in Europe and cruises through pictures and video. Jamie is also the content creator for Blogosphere in London.

Why he chose St. Petersburg

“I recently cruised to the Baltics with an overnight stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I was so intrigued to explore this part of the world and was blown away by the breath-taking sights I saw. I’d highly recommend booking a tour as having a local expert bring to life the stories of Russia’s history made it all the more memorable. There were so many highlights from my weekend, including a ride on the palatial Underground Metro, cruise on the Neva River and guided tour of the world-famous Heritage Museum and Winter Palace.”

Yangon, Myanmar

Chosen by: Danielle Fear | CruiseMiss (www.cruisemiss.com)

Known to her blog readers as CruiseMiss, Danielle is a freelance writer and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. She’s sat on the Cruise Expert panel for USA Today/10BEST for the last 3 years and is currently on a 168-night ‘Grand Voyage’ with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Why she chose Yangon

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit many fabulous places in the world, so picking one favourite port is almost an impossible task, however, there is one place that I instantly fell in love with last year during a World Cruise and that was Yangon, Myanmar. I liked everything about it, the smells, the food, the history, the religion and unique culture. It was unlike any other place I’d visited and I was intrigued by everything. I’m visiting again very soon and can’t wait to see more of the stunning pagodas, sample more of the delicious food and explore villages that I didn’t get to last time. It’s not a destination for everyone, but it was certainly a place for me and my travel curiosity to run wild.”

Where is your favourite place to cruise? Do you have a favourite port? Let us know in the comments below!